The Rector of Sutton Committed, Queries
QUERIES.
Query I. WHether this Sermon of the Doctor's be more likely to convince, or his firſt Writings to confirm Diſſenters? And whether he be more unintereſted now (See his ſeveral Conferences, pag. 147.) or leſs fallible? Or whether his Readers (that weighing the Reaſon of his former Hypotheſis, were drawn to be much of his Mind) muſt now change their Judgments without his giving better Reaſon to the contrary, that is, without confuting a conſiderable part of his Irenicum; only upon his declaring, that his Opinion concerning thoſe Matters is now changed, or ſaying Older and Wiſer, that he hath ſince conſidered things better, or that he now ſees further, and would not yeild ſo far as before (being ſet on higher Ground?) See ſeveral Conferences, pag. 148.
II. (Upon the Epiſtle, beginning of the ſecond Page) Whether a laſting Ʋnion be impoſſible to be attained, without ſubmiſſion to the preſent eſtabliſh'd Rule? Or whether it were not more poſſible and eaſy to be attained by a Rule of mutual Forbearance?
III. Whether a Man of Peace (as the Doctor no doubt would be accounted) that (I ſuppoſe) would not pretend exemption from that great Duty of ſtudying the things that make for Peace and Ʋnity, and that prayeth (as Serm. pag. 3.) God deliver us from ſuch cruel ways of Peace, and ſuch deſtructive means of Ʋnity (as the Roman Church uſeth) may not upon ſecond, and ſerious Thougths find out another way to Peace and Ʋnion among us, viz. That peaceable Diſſenters (agreeing with the Church of England in all things neceſſary) be tolerated (though they cannot in all things comply with the late eſtabliſh'd Rule?) Which if it could once be obtained of Rulers, Conformiſts then would not have that occaſion or encouragement to fly out againſt their Brethren as Separatiſts, and Schiſmaticks; as on the other hand Non-Conformiſts might not have the like occaſion to entertain hard Thoughts of them again, as their Accuſers, and ſuch as would inſtigate Rulers, Magiſtrates, and others to a further ſevere proſecution of them?
IV. If none were tolerated in the Miniſtry, or in Communion with the Church, but thoſe whoſe faults were no greater than the Non-Conformity of ſober Diſſenters, whether we ſhould not have very few Miniſters left in England, and very thin Congregations? Or whether indeed a total extirpation of the Miniſtry, and utter diſſolution of the Church would not follow on it?
V. Whether the Apoſtle requiring all to walk by the ſame Rule, intended any other Rule, than what was given to the Church in the Apoſtles time? Whether it be not the ſame Rule, which all that had then attained to the Knowledg, Belief and Profeſſion of Chriſtianity, were then obliged to walk by, and all Chriſtians ever ſince? And whether the Chriſtian Church in the Apoſtles times had any ſuch Rule, as that to which the Doctor would have us all conform? And if Men will look in the preſent eſtabliſh'd Rule, as conſequently binding, when eſtabliſhed, whether they muſt not ſuppoſe Men now to have Authority ſo far equal with the Apoſtles? And that all other Chriſtians (at leaſt, that hear of the Rule eſtabliſhed in England) ſin againſt that Apoſtolical Precept, Phil. 3.16. that comply not with England's eſtabliſh'd Rule? Or elſe muſt they not ſay, that with the Apoſtle, that is ſtill the ſame Rule, which is one thing here in the Church of England, and which is another quite different in other Churches, as in the Churches of France, Holland, &c.
VI. Whether it be ſinful ſeparation for ſuch Miniſters and Chriſtians as conform not hand over head to any publickly eſtabliſhed Rule, to aſſemble for the Worſhip of God? Whether muſt we not worſhip God, but only according to ſuch Rules as our Governors pleaſe to eſtabliſh? If we are not ever bound to conform to the Rules ſuch may eſtabliſh, or to neglect God's publick Worſhip, What Limits are to be ſet here? And how may we be put out of doubt, that we are ſo bound to the preſent Rule eſtabliſhed?
VII. Whether it can ever be proved ſinful for Rulers to ſuffer Miniſters and Chriſtians to worſhip God, that would worſhip him as near as they can according to Scripture Rule, if they cannot be ſatisfyed they ſhould do ſo complying with the preſent eſtabliſh'd Rule? Or whether Rulers might not lawfully tolerate ſuch? And whether it would not be very ſinful for ſuch Diſſenters either wholly to omit worſhipping God publickly, or to worſhip God (againſt their Judgment and Conſciences) according to the eſtabliſhed Rule?
VIII. If The preſerving the Peace of the Church, and preventing Separation, was the great Meaſure the Apoſtle went by, (as the Doctor ſays, Serm. pag. 15.) Whether this ſhould not alſo be a meaſure to other Church-Governors, and thoſe Church-Guides that pretend to follow the Apoſtle's Example? And whether ſuch as are for enforcing things unneceſſary, and doubtful at leaſt, if not ſinful, which they cannot but know will ſadly diſturb, and greatly divide the Church, whether (I ſay) ſuch herein keep to the Apoſtles Rule and Meaſure?
IX. When many highly conformable Preachers with many of their Hearers fall far ſhort of ſober Non-Conformiſts, as not being ſo much conformed to the Scripture Rule in their Doctrine and Faith, Worſhip, Life and Practice, why may not theſe be taken to belong to the Church, as well as the former, unleſs greater ſtreſs be laid on Conformity to Man's Rule, than on Conformity to God's Rule?
X. When thoſe many hundreds of Non-Conformiſts were lawful Miniſters and publick Preachers before they were put out by the eſtabliſhed Rule, and had ſo continued, had it not been for ſuch a Rule eſtabliſhed, notwithſtanding their Judgment was the ſame it is; Whether may it not ſeem a little ſtrange, that they ſhould ceaſe to be Miniſters, or quite forfeit their Miniſterial Liberty, meerly for Non-Conformity to ſuch an eſtabliſhed Rule, when they had a valid Call unto, and could perform all Acts of their Miniſterial Function without it, and when it might be more queſtioned, Whether indeed they deſerved to have their Liberty continued, if they had conformed to ſuch a Rule, as whether they did not Conform, meerly to keep in their Places againſt their Judgments? And how little Hope was there, that ſuch would be faithful to God, and the Souls of Men in the Miniſtry, that cared not to be ſo unfaithful to their own Souls, acting againſt their Conſciences? If they forfeit not their Liberty by their ſimple Judgment in thoſe Points, but that indeed ſuch Miniſters might very well be at leaſt allowed, and tolerated in any Church of Chriſt, Whether would they be more unworthy in not practiſing contrary, or in practiſing contrary to their Judgments?
XI. Whether there be any true Church (organized) of Apoſtolical Inſtitution, that hath not the juſt Right and Power to govern and reform it ſelf? And whether the Doctor will aſſert this Right and Power in all our Parochial Congregations? If not, how will he prove, that to ſeparate from a Parochial Congregation is to ſeparate from a true Church? If yea, then what will become of his eſtabliſhed Rule, which he would have all conform unto?
XII. Whether ſuch as would have all debarred of the ordinary means of Salvation, that cannot enjoy them at their Pariſh-Church, or that cannot ſatisfy themſelves that Communion there at preſent is lawful (though we ſhould ſuppoſe theſe laſt in an error) Whether ſuch (I ſay) manifeſt any great Charity towards the Souls of theſe their poor Brethren, or care what becomes of them? Whether they are not yet to learn what that meaneth, I will have Mercy, and not Sacrifice? And if the preaching of the Goſpel be ordinarily neceſſary to the working of Faith, to Mens Converſion and Salvation, and if Conformity to the eſtabliſhed Rule (ſuppoſing it lawful, yet) is not ſo neceſſary; Whether it be right in the ſight of God, and pleaſing to him, and whether the Souls of others debarred from the means of Salvation have reaſon to thank them for it, that they are againſt any Miniſters preaching the Goſpel, that cannot conform to the eſtabliſhed Rule? So, whether they that would have Multitudes untaught, and God's Worſhip by many neglected, and Lords Days greatly profaned, rather than any but Conformiſts ſhould be employed in Miniſterial work, Whether they do not ſadly croſs and thwart, and make void the Scripture-Rule, to ſet up and keep up their Church-Rule?